From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
Message-Id: <200203131413.PAA02821@boris.cd.chalmers.se>
To: 9fans@cse.psu.edu
Subject: Re: [9fans] samuel 
In-reply-to: Your message of "Mon, 11 Mar 2002 10:09:54 GMT."
             <87r8mr9amd.fsf@becket.becket.net> 
From: Laura Creighton <lac@cd.chalmers.se>
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 15:13:40 +0100
Topicbox-Message-UUID: 666f0dea-eaca-11e9-9e20-41e7f4b1d025


The American Spectator ran an article about 5 years ago which
showed the various 'mouse trap patents' and working mousetraps
(where available) that the US patent office received.  It was
crushing confirmation that the old adage 'build a better 
mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door' is nonsense.
Lots of people built better mousetraps.  It is not hard to be
better than the mousetrap that has largest market share in the USA.
That one is the metal spring on a small piece of wood, popularised 
by the Saturday Morning Cartoons.

Build a better mousetrap, and the bastards who already have 
market share and have locked up the distribution channels
will continue to dominate the market.  This is the grim reality
that we have proven again and again and again over the last 20 years
in this industry.

I'm re-reading 'Fumbling the Future' right now.  (thanks Boyd who
leant it to me.)  It's very sad.

Laura Creighton